Each game has a set of rules and special equipment that is used by the players. It is important to ensure that the equipment and other accessories for the game are properly set. If you love darts, then the first thing that you should familiarise with is setting the dart board properly. It will be a futile exercise to practice darts when the board is wrongly set.
In this post, you can get more information about how to properly set your dart board. The major factors to consider when setting a dart board includes mounting options, height as well as throwing distance and many more.
What Are the Official Dartboard Measurements?
When setting a dart board, you should know the official measurements that should be strictly followed every time. These measurements are internationally recognized. First of all, you must choose a place with sufficient space in your home where you can mount your dartboard to ensure that there are no disturbances.
The height for both steel tip and soft tipped darts must be five feet eight inches or 1.73 meters. This height measures the distance from the floor to the center of the dart board which is also called the bull’s eye.
The throwing distance is measured from the face of the dartboard mounted on the wall, not the wall itself. A standard 18-inch dart board is approximately one and a half inches thick. Therefore, the correct measurement of the throwing line must be 7 feet 9 ¼ inches or 2.37 meters from the surface of the dart board.
To check if the dartboard is correctly mounted in terms of its height and distance, you can use a diagonal line between the mark of the throwing line and the board’s center bull’s eye. This diagonal line should measure 2.93 meters or 9 ft 7 3/8in.
Your throwing line should be marked by either a wooden bar or a simple line on the floor but the former is more appropriate. The wooden bar makes overstepping the line impossible. It is a standard measure in different places as well as during significant games.
Mounting the Board
A dartboard comes with a clip that is mounted on the wall. There is a screw at the back of the board that is located at the center of the bull’s eye and it is fitted into the clip mounted on the wall. You must make sure that the clip is mounted at the correct height.
You must always make sure that number 20 on your dart board comes on the top and also ensure that the scoreboard is either on the left or right of the dart board. When you mount the board to the wall, make sure you fix it with wooden pieces or board to hold it firm so that it does not move.
Other dart boards come with spring clips that you can mount at the back of the board. There is no rule that spells the exact location of these spring clips. It is important to evenly spread them especially in a triangular formation to prevent any movement.
The other important aspect that you should consider is to protect your walls. You can design a wooden cabinet that is sufficient enough to cover the surface of the wall around the dartboard. Alternatively, you can use plywood board that will act as a shield against stray arrows.
Flooring and Lighting
Other factors to consider when setting your dart board include lighting and flooring. You must consider putting a dart mat or carpet on top of either wooden or concrete floor. The dart tips can damage the wooden floor in a scenario where they miss the dart board or bounce. A carpet also helps to prevent the dart tips from damage if they hit a concrete floor.
You must also make sure that you mount your dart board away from the window in case the darts may bounce off the board and cause damage. The board should also be in a safe place so that the arrows do not pose a threat to the onlookers if they bounce from the board.
Without sufficient lighting, your dart board set up is not complete. You must mount an overhead spotlight above the dart board to provide light directly on the surface of the dart board. You should make sure that there is no shade over the dart board since this can affect your view.
You do not need to repeat the process of setting up your dartboard regularly since you can leave it on the wall after the game. It can also play a role in decorating your walls so there is no need to worry about removing it after the game. Above all, you must always practice high safety standards within the area where you set your dart board.